Any pro tennis player determined to win the four Grand Slams in a calendar year must start Down Under. As in Melbourne, site of the Australian Open, the sport’s first Grand Slam of the year.

The first round of play is set for Jan. 18-20 on the hardcourts at Rod Laver Arena.

(A player who wins all four Grand Slams in a calendar year would be elevated into rarefied air. Only Rod Laver, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf have pulled off that feat in the Open Era, when prize money was awarded for Grand Slams.)

This year, on the men’s side, Italy’s Jannik Sinner will be looking for his third consecutive title at the Australian Open, but his chief rival, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, will be the top seed.

On the women’s side, American Madison Keys arrives as the defending champion. But Aryna Sabalenka, seeking her third title in four years, will be the favorite and Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff contenders.

Not to look too far ahead, but Grand Slam play will continue with the French Open starting in May, Wimbledon starting to in June and the U.S. Open starting in August.

When is the Australian Open? Dates and schedule

• Jan. 18-20: Round 1
• Jan. 21-22: Round 2
• Jan. 23-24: Round 3
• Jan. 25-26: Round 4 (Round of 16)
• Jan. 27-28: Quarterfinals.
• Jan. 29: Women’s semifinals.
• Jan. 30: Men’s semi-finals
• Jan. 31: Women’s final
• Feb. 1: Men’s final

Australian Open Times

• Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of New York, creating some challenging viewing times. Matches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) and as late as 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET).
• Start times for matches will be 11 a.m. (7 p.m. ET), noon (8 p.m. ET), 7 p.m. (3 a.m. ET) and 7:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m.)

How to watch the Australian Open

The Australian Open will be broadcast across ESPN and ESPN 2. You can also stream on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

Starting tonight, LeBron James’ jerseys are going to look unlike those worn by anybody else in the NBA.

In conjunction with Topps, the league announced Monday, Jan. 12, that James will wear a specialized commemorative patch on his upper right chest in honor of his NBA record 23^rd season for the rest of the year. James will first wear the patch Monday during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Sacramento Kings.

The patch includes a silhouette of James’ figure during his infamous pre-game gesture of tossing powdered chalk into the air. The patch also includes colors of the two other teams he has played for, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

After each game the Lakers equipment manager will remove the patches, date them, and they will be shipped to the Topps production facility in Dallas where they will be authenticated and placed into trading cards. The process of removing and dating the patches will be recorded on video.

Earlier this season, when he made his debut Nov. 18 against the Utah Jazz, James set an NBA record for most seasons played, surpassing the mark he had held with Hall of Famer Vince Carter.

James, who turned 41 in late December, has remained a productive player despite his age and is reimagining the standard of expected performance for a player his age. He’s averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game across 19 contests.

Alongside star guard Luka Dončić, James is helping keep the Lakers (23-13) competitive, currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference.

Dean Evason, who nearly got the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs amid tragedy in 2024-25, is out of a job after the team’s slow start.

The Blue Jackets announced on Monday, Jan. 12, that they had fired Evason and were bringing in NHL veteran coach Rick Bowness to replace him. Assistant coach Steve McCarthy also was fired.

“This season has been a frustrating one for all of us, and the bottom line is we are not performing at a level that meets our expectations,’ general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. ‘We all share in that responsibility, me included, and while this was not a decision that was made lightly it is one that needed to be made at this time. Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that.’

Evason is the first NHL head coach fired this season.

The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs by two points last season despite the death of star Johnny Gaudreau in August 2024. He and his brother Matthew were hit by a car while bicycling in New Jersey.

Bowness, 70, had announced his retirement in 2024 after spending nearly 50 years in the league as a player or coach. He had most recently coached the Winnipeg Jets and had led the Dallas Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

“Rick Bowness is a tremendous coach with invaluable experience and knowledge, and he will bring a steadiness to our team at an important juncture in our season,” said Waddell. “He is a good communicator whose teams play with structure, are sound defensively and we believe he is the right person to bring out the best in our group.”

The Blue Jackets, who ended a four-game losing streak on Sunday, are last in the Metropolitan Division with a 19-19-7 record. Evason, 61, finishes his tenure in Columbus with a 59-52-16 record.

Cruz Medina would have done anything to play for the San Jose Earthquakes, but the MLS club killed the top prospect’s dream by not giving him a chance, his father says.

Antonio Guero Medina launched a diatribe on social media as reports say his son is on the verge of joining Liga MX power Chivas.

The 19-year-old developed a reputation as a top prospect in San Jose’s academy, signing as a Homegrown Player in 2022 when he was 15.

But Medina has yet to make his first-team debut for the Earthquakes, spending his time in MLS Next Pro with the club’s reserve side The Town FC.

With his son on the verge of leaving his childhood team without a senior appearance to his name, Medina’s father hit out at the club on his Instagram story.

He said his son was an Earthquakes fan since birth and ‘willing to do anything for the badge,’ but claimed that the club ‘found every way to kill his dream.’

The midfielder’s father added that ‘all these people they have in charge (don’t) have a (expletive) clue!’ He concluded his post by encouraging young players to steer clear of San Jose’s academy.

Medina is set to embark on a fresh start at Chivas, as reports state he will begin with the club’s reserve side CD Tapatío.

The California-born player has represented the United States at various youth international levels, but has also accepted a call-up from Mexico’s under-20 side. His international future is still up in the air.

Soccer fans around the globe have lodged their complaints about the high prices for tickets to 2026 World Cup matches in North America this summer.

However, in what may be a first, someone who will be playing in the tournament is also echoing their concerns.

USMNT winger Timothy Weah said he is “disappointed’ in the pricing structure that places most all of the tickets beyond the price range of the average person.

‘It is too expensive,’ Weah told French outlet Le Dauphiné. ‘Football should still be enjoyed by everyone. It is the most popular sport. This World Cup will be good, but it will be more of a show.’

WORLD CUP TICKETS: How to buy them

In an effort to make some reasonably priced options available, FIFA is providing a selected number of tickets to national federations of the participating countries for them to distribute to loyal fans who have previously attended their nations’ matches.

The ‘supporter entry tier’ tickets − which cost $60 apiece − are extremely limited. Otherwise through FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing, the cheapest group stage games that did not involve host nations Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have ranged from $120 to $265, and from $4,185 to $8,680 for the July 19 championship match in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

‘I am just a bit disappointed by the ticket prices,’ the Marseille winger added in the interview before Tuesday’s French Cup match against Bayeux. ‘Lots of real fans will miss matches.’

Currently on loan at Marseille from Juventus, Weah, 25, has scored seven goals and recorded five assists in 47 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team. He is the son of 1995 Ballon d’Or winner and former president of Liberia, George Weah.

The Los Angeles Rams got a scare when Matthew Stafford suffered a finger injury during the team’s 34-31 wild-card win over the Carolina Panthers.

Stafford’s injury occurred after he attempted a pass near the end of the first half. He hit his throwing hand hard on D.J. Wonnum’s arm, and the 37-year-old recoiled in pain and doubled over following the impact.

Below is a look at the play on which Stafford was injured:

Despite the injury, Stafford did not miss a snap for the Rams. He dealt with some midgame struggles after he first bent back his finger but rebounded in time to lead Los Angeles on a game-winning touchdown drive with 38 seconds left. He finished the game completing 24 of 42 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a more-than-respectable showing.

But how will Stafford’s finger problem impact him moving forward? Here’s what to know about his status for the Rams’ divisional-round game against the Chicago Bears.

Matthew Stafford injury update

Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday, Jan 12 that Stafford was dealing with ‘a little sprain’ in his right index finger. McVay also outlined that the plan is for Stafford to play in the divisional round against the Bears.

‘He’s as tough as it gets, and he’ll be good to go,’ McVay said, per the Associated Press.

McVay’s update comes after reports indicated X-rays on Stafford’s injured hand had been negative.

The veteran quarterback also addressed his injury during a postgame news conference Saturday, Jan. 10. At the time, he said he ‘got a finger bent back’ but expressed confidence it wouldn’t impact him too much moving forward.

‘They saw it on the TV on the sideline or whatever. I didn’t obviously know exactly what had happened,’ Stafford explained of his finger injury. ‘It wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t great.’

‘We’ll see what it is,’ Stafford added. ‘I was obviously able to finish the game and throw it decent. Once the ball’s snapped, the adrenaline’s pretty good. So we’ll hopefully just keep it going.’

As such, it appears the only question will be about how much Stafford practices as he prepares to face Chicago.

Who is the Rams backup QB?

Garoppolo has started 64 games across his 12 NFL seasons since being a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Eastern Illinois product has a 43-21 career record across those starts and helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl 54, where they lost 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rams QB depth chart

The Rams have just three quarterbacks in their organization as a whole. All three are on the team’s 53-man roster.

Below is a look at the pecking order at the position:

1. Matthew Stafford
2. Jimmy Garoppolo
3. Stetson Bennett IV

Bennett was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He played collegiately at Georgia and helped lead the Bulldogs to two national championships.

Bennett has not yet played a snap at the NFL level but was designated the team’s emergency third quarterback for the team’s wild-card win over the Panthers.

The Colorado Avalanche had mostly avoided adversity during their dominant first half of the season.

Then it hit.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog crashed into the net on Jan. 4 and is week-to-week. Defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood also are out long term.

The Avalanche lost back-to-back games in regulation for the first time this season during their trip to Florida.

But they have regrouped, beating the Ottawa Senators 8-2 and the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0. Their 33-4-7 record through Sunday, Jan. 11, gives them a 12-point edge in the Presidents’ Trophy race.

The Avalanche remain on pace to break the Boston Bruins’ 2022-23 NHL record of 135 points in a season and remain the top team in USA TODAY Sports’ latest power rankings. Here are the full rankings:

USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings

Note: Stats through Jan. 11. Parentheses show movement from two weeks ago:

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

The Avalanche have yet to lose in regulation at home. They have won 17 in a row at Ball Arena.

2. Minnesota Wild (+1)

Both Wild goalies, Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, are heading to the Olympics with Team Sweden, along with forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin. Minnesota is also sending three Americans (Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber and Matt Boldy) and Germany’s Niko Sturm.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (+2)

The Lightning have won nine in a row. That has coincided with a nine-game point streak in which Nikita Kucherov has scored 23 points.

4. Dallas Stars (-2)

The Stars remain second in the league in points percentage, but they have one win in their last eight games.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (-1)

Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov is likely done for the season after surgery, leaving Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen as the tandem. Andersen picked up his first win since Nov. 6.

6. Detroit Red Wings (0)

Patrick Kane reached the 500-goal milestone with a two-goal performance on Jan. 8. He’s the fifth U.S.-born scorer to hit that mark and needs five points to pass Mike Modano (1,374 points), the top U.S.-born scorer.

7. Montreal Canadiens (+2)

The Canadiens have had a topsy-turvy January. They scored 21 goals in their four victories and were shut out in their two losses.

8. Vegas Golden Knights (-1)

Jack Eichel, shut out in his return from an injury, has put together a five-game point streak. He also had a five-game streak before his injury.

9. New York Islanders (+1)

Bo Horvat, named to Team Canada on Dec. 31, has been out since suffering a lower-body injury the following day. The Islanders have won three of their last four games without him.

10. Buffalo Sabres (+5)

The Sabres have won 13 of their 14 games to move into a wild-card spot. Most of that surge has happened after the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams. Buffalo is trying to end a record 14-season playoff drought.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (-3)

Trevor Zegras is heading to a career season with 41 points in 43 games, but he has been shut out in four of his last five games. He’ll become a restricted free agent in July.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs (+10)

William Nylander had a goal and two assists in his return from a six-game injury absence. He leads the Maple Leafs with 44 points despite missing 10 games this season.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (+3)

The Penguins, who averaged five goals a game during their six-game winning streak, have been limited to one goal in losing their last two games. … Forward Blake Lizotte signed a three-year contract extension averaging $2.25 million a year.

14. Edmonton Oilers (0)

Connor McDavid has a career-best 18-game point streak and has moved into a tie with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL scoring lead.

15. Washington Capitals (-4)

NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin has reached 20 goals for a 21th consecutive season. That puts him in second place all time in that category behind Gordie Howe.

16. Boston Bruins (+5)

Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov had their first career hat tricks in a 10-2 win against the Rangers. Khusnutdinov finished with four goals, and David Pastrnak tied a franchise record with six assists. The game was the Bruins’ first with double hat tricks since 1964.

17. Seattle Kraken (+9)

The Kraken’s 10-game point streak ended on Jan. 11 with a 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes. Seattle was limited to 12 shots in that game.

18. Florida Panthers (-5)

Matthew Tkachuk (offseason hernia surgery) is accompanying the Panthers on their road trip in hopes of getting back into the lineup for the first time this season. But coach Paul Maurice told reporters that there would be no lineup changes for their Jan. 12 game, meaning no Tkachuk or injured Brad Marchand.

19. Los Angeles Kings (-1)

Captain Anze Kopitar, out for the second time this season, was placed on the injured list. He has missed two games with a lower-body injury. He missed four games earlier this season.

20. San Jose Sharks (+3)

Macklin Celebrini, named to Team Canada, saw his 13-game point streak end in a Jan. 11 loss to the Golden Knights. He had 27 points in that stretch.

21. Utah Mammoth (+3)

Clayton Keller, considered the biggest player left off the USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad, has made the U.S. Olympic team. He has seven points in his last three games.

22. Nashville Predators (+6)

The Predators have gone 13-7 since the beginning of December to move from last in the NHL to two points out of a playoff spot.

23. New Jersey Devils (-6)

Dougie Hamilton was a healthy scratch on Sunday after the return of defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic. Hamilton has a 10-team trade list and his agent, J.P. Barry. told TSN’s Pierre LeBrun: ‘We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to get to a team that is mutually acceptable.’

24. Ottawa Senators (-4)

Senators general manager Steven Staios put out a statement criticizing ‘the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet’ after a rumor was spread about goalie Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence. The team on Jan. 12 signed veteran goalie James Reimer for the remainder of the season at a pro-rated $850,000.

25. New York Rangers (-6)

The Rangers have given up 15 goals in the two games since Igor Shesterkin left a Jan. 5 game with a lower body injury. Jonathan Quick left a 10-2 loss to the Bruins after giving up six goals on 20 shots.

26. Chicago Blackhawks (+5)

Connor Bedard, who wasn’t named to Canada’s Olympic team, has returned after missing 12 games with a shoulder injury. He had two assists in his second game back. The Blackhawks won their last four games before Bedard’s return and are 1-1 since.

27. Anaheim Ducks (-15)

The Ducks have gone through a 1-8-2 skid to drop out of a playoff spot. Leading scorer Leo Carlsson has been held without a point in nine of those 11 games.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets (-3)

Defenseman Denton Mateychuk was injured on Brandon Tanev’s hit from behind on Sunday, Jan. 11. The Blue Jackets ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the Mammoth in that game.

29. Calgary Flames (0)

Defense prospect Zayne Parekh set a career record for most points by a Canadian defenseman at the world junior championships (13) to help his team win a bronze medal.

30. St. Louis Blues (-3)

The Blues signed defenseman Philip Broberg to a six-year contract extension averaging $8 million a year. St. Louis obtained Broberg via an offer sheet in 2024 that the Oilers didn’t match. The defenseman has been named to the Swedish Olympic team.

31. Winnipeg Jets (-1)

The 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy winners dropped to last in the NHL with an 11-game winless streak. But they have escaped the cellar by winning two in a row.

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

The Canucks have been outscored 21-12 in a six-game winless streak and 10-2 in their last two games. Goalie Thatcher Demko has been placed on the injured list.

This story has been updated with new information.